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Brighton Bridge
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© 2025
Brighton Bridge
Common Good Research
Rachel Brighton
researcher & writer
editor & publisher
Known for sharp commentary on economics, public policy, energy projects, and utility regulation — and her data-driven reporting — Rachel Brighton was business editor and reporter at The Sunday Herald Sun in Melbourne, Australia (1994 to 1997) and a columnist, publisher, editor and award-winning journalist in Canada (1998 to 2016).Rachel’s newspaper columns, and articles written by others and published in her former journal, The Nova Scotia Policy Review, have been cited in the context of international arbitration (Resolute Forest Products Inc. v Government of Canada, Statement of Claim, 2015); international fisheries (a fellowship paper published by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, 2010); human rights and freedom of information (Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Review Office, 2007 Annual Report); medical policy (Canadian Medical Association Journal, 2011); and in the Nova Scotia Legislature.In the later years of her time as a weekly columnist for The Chronicle Herald (Halifax), from 2009 to 2016, Rachel carved a niche in media commentary on questions of political economy in Nova Scotia.Rachel has also applied her journalism skills to independent scholarship. Her feature writing on the trapnet fishery in St Margaret’s Bay (Nova Scotia), published internationally, led to a professional writing grant from the Canada Council for the Arts in 2003. With this support, Rachel generated a considerable body of technical, social, archival and regulatory research on the historic trade patterns, fisheries policies and North American diplomacy in which this unique coastal fishery developed.Around the same time, Rachel participated in a statutory appeal, reflecting the concern of fishermen and other residents in their small coastal community on the west side of St Margaret’s Bay; they disputed approval for a proposed finfish farm at the mouth of Northwest Cove. Their appeal, though dismissed, raised public awareness and the aquaculture proposal was abandoned. See Brighton v Nova Scotia (Agriculture and Fisheries), 2002 NSSC 160.Rachel’s next project was a collection of first-person reflections from immigrant women, gathered through interviews, edited, and published as The Road Here: Stories from Senior Women in Rural Nova Scotia (Bridgetown, N.S.: Western Area Women’s Coalition, 2008).Reflecting her close reading of public policy and economic development, Rachel was a guest panellist for CBC Radio (Halifax) coverage of the 2015 federal election in Canada and the 2013 provincial election in Nova Scotia.For the past decade she has served government in economic and business development roles. Within provincial government, Rachel enjoys professional opportunities to advance regulatory literacy and advocate for accessible access to information.In volunteer service, Rachel has led not-for-profit property development organisations (Aspotogan Heritage Trust and Annapolis County Housing Association) in Nova Scotia, Canada.Rachel holds two degrees: BBSc, Honours (Psychology), La Trobe University, Australia, and MA (Theology), Acadia University, Canada. Certificates: MicroResearch Nova Scotia and the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT).Currently enrolled in the 2026 Law Librarians’ Institute at the Canadian Association of Law Libraries / L’Association canadienne des bibliothèques de droit (CALL/ACBD).Member, CALL/ACBD.
© 2025 Brighton Bridge
Common Good Research